Too many South Sudanese girls grow up without a stage. From a young age, many are told to stay quiet, stay home and prepare for marriage. Early marriage, household responsibilities and a lack of role models push too many girls out of school before they ever discover what they are capable of.
Confidence is not something a girl is simply born with. It is built, through being seen, being encouraged and being celebrated. And for many girls in South Sudan, those chances are rare.
Under our Nurturing Youth Talent pillar, EcoRise South Sudan supported an inter-school modelling competition from the very first round all the way to the grand final, providing T-shirts and awards for the participants.
For the young women in this photo, the competition was much more than fashion. Walking in front of their schools, families and peers, they learned to carry themselves with pride, speak with confidence and handle the pressure of competition. They were cheered for who they are and what they can do.
These lessons do not stay on the runway. A girl who has stood confidently before a crowd is more likely to raise her hand in class, speak up in her community, and fight to stay in school. She is also more likely to say no to an early marriage and yes to her own dreams.
When we invest in girls’ confidence, we invest in South Sudan’s future leaders.
#EcoRiseSouthSudan #IREP #SouthSudan #NurturingYouthTalent #GirlsEducation #GenderEquality
With support from @Cohere and @Quadrature Climate Foundation
